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Japanese closer Kyuji Fujikawa visited with five MLB teams this past weekend, and he appears to be moving quickly through the free agent process. Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker (Twitter link) translates a Nikkan Sports piece that reports Fujikawa has offers from 10 Major League clubs and has narrowed his decision process to five teams.

Fujikawa has reportedly met with the Dodgers, Angels, Orioles, Cubs and Diamondbacks. The Rangers are also said to have interest in the 32-year-old, who has been Japan's best closer for the past several years. He is reportedly looking for a multiyear deal on his first foray into Major League Baseball. Because he is a free agent, interested teams are not required to go through the posting process with Fujikawa.

Fujikawa has only posted an ERA higher than 1.63 once since 2007. Over the past six seasons with the Hanshin Tigers, he has 202 saves to go along with an eye-popping 1.36 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 12.4 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 369 2/3 innings. In that time, he's allowed just 18 home runs.

This guy's numbers are unreal. Does anyone have a scouting report on him? I'd be interested in an objective evaluation as to whether his stuff would translate well to MLB. Anytime you can add talent with just money the team should do it.

Rising O's wrote:If we can keep that 7th inning dominance thing going though, its a good problem to have.

That to my thinking is a huge if!

Can't think of the last time standing pat and not bolstering your team any way you can ever paid off. The pen duplicating last season's success would be tough to do as it is. Signing him (presuming he is healthy and looks to remain durable) would be an outstanding choice for any team.

As great as the bullpen was last year, relievers are very much up and down. Look what happened to Pedro Strop late in the season.Very good move if they can pull it off because this guy seems to be a winner.

Speaking of Strop, this could open the way to his trade to boost another position.

CHICAGO (AP)Japanese closer Kyuji Fujikawa and the Chicago Cubs have reached agreement on a two-year contract for $9.5 million, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Saturday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the signing has not been announced. Foxsports.com first reported the deal.

The 32-year-old Fujikawa pitched for two-time World Baseball Classic champion Japan and played in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He had 220 saves in 12 seasons with Hanshin and became an unrestricted free agent last month.

Closer Carlos Marmol remains on the Cubs' roster. The team tried to trade him to the Los Angeles Angels for starting pitcher Dan Haren last month, but that deal fell apart.

Fujikawa gets a $1 million signing bonus, and $4 million salaries in 2013 and 2014. The deal includes a vesting option for a third year at $5.5 million or $6 million based on games played.

If the option doesn't become automatic, the Cubs could then pay him $5.5 million or buy him out for $500,000. Fujikawa could also earn up to $2 million in performance bonuses per year.